Interesting, I heard Micky Dolenz interviewed on the Today show this morning and his (non-medical, I grant you) opinion was that it was genetic. Apparently Davy's mother died of heart problems at a very young age, and his father died early too.... also heart according to Dolenz.

OK. Genetics? Absolutely outside of our spheres of control. Modern Medicine has known this for years. So what to do? All those with a genetic link need only wait for the inevitable and then turn to the medical community and say "Oh well! It runs in my family, my PCP has known it for years. Why am I having a stent put in when my genetics has been in my medical history for years. Wow. I get so bitter sometimes over subjects like this.

Genetics is not an intangible in medical science. Are early testing and preventive, proactive measures unecessary proceudres to halt the progression of heart disease? My father had his 1st heart attack at 38 Years Old. I had no idea about genetics and it's link to subsequent family health occurences. I was simply way to active and healthy to think that it would ever happen to me. Ignorance and denial play an important part in my case, anyway. I was the fastest person from home plate to first base. They had Mercury written on my softball uniform as an association with a man with wings on his feet. I smoked, drank, worked double shifts and still felt like a million bucks. Genetics? Not ME!

So I guess, educating the masses is key to leading healthier lifestyles, all around. And early detection is critical to stop it when CAD or other cardiac related diseases excellerates. Breast exams, pap smears, bone scans are all apart of early detection methods routinely used. Why does America wait till someone is 90% occluded to act. This is insane. I send emails to my kids encouraging, especially my 30YO son to demand early intervention now. Remember the leading cause of death in America.

Wow I could go on and on but. Surprise I will stop right here.

Love ya all,

Just Joe

I heard on the news that he had an abnormal heartbeat/heart rate.

I need also to register my sadness at his passing, regardless of the causes. I grew up in the Monkees era and I always liked them as a kid.

Cheer up Sleepy Jean,
Oh what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen???!!!

Sue, you have an incredible memory for words to songs. Must be genetic. LOL

Oh yes Steve, Monkey's, Cowsills, Osmond Bro's, Jackson 5. All in our generation. Used to run home at 3:30PM from the school bus to watch Dark Shadows, w/ Barnabas Collins and Quigley Mansion. Wow what memories. Seems my long term memory is fine, but it's my short term nowadays that these meds are effecting.

Love ya all,


Just joe

dark shadows, we all gathered in the neighborhood to watch that.. every day.. I guess everyone froma certain age, if it runs in family, should have the proper tests done..

Genetics take a part of the cause but it doesn't mean that just because your mother or father had a heart attack that you are going to have one. If you watch your life style and eat healthy you stand a good chance that you will be OK. And then again you can do everything right and still have one, I think that they don't do all these test because of the insurance companies, they always have to run it by the company to get approval before they can do a procedure.
Rich the Elder

PS Joe they say one of the first things to go in old age is the mind, I know some mornings when I get up I don't know what day it is LOL

Yeah! I hear you "older brother". But we can all attest that we actually do get up and that is a glorious blessing. Not knowing the day of the week it is, well, happens all the time, and sometimes can be beneficial, like if you were scheduled to do something with your "Mother in Law" sort of thing or had a proctology exam etc. ....... Not knowing when to "S**t or get off the pot........? Now that tendency may require an adjustment in out medication regimen.

Love you Bro (Richie the Elder)

Just Joe

Thanks Rich and Joe,

I think that was the nature of the OP's question.... inasmuch as it seemed that DJ was certainly doing what he could to lower his risk factors, it leaves the question open to speculation.... genetics, stress, whatever. Of course, speculation is about all we can do, so in the end it may be without purpose, but if you would believe the bio-experts, there is an awful lot to this business of genetics.

That doesn't give permission to be fatalistic about one's approach to heart health, and there is certainly more to this story than we know or will ever know, however there is, to be honest, probably more than a little justification for someone who pays a lot of attention to his/her heart health because he/she knows that his/her family history is one fraught with heart disease. Who receives what genes may indeed be a crapshoot, but it is probably a good thing to be aware that whatever genetic history you inherit, it plays a part in how your heart will fare over time. You don't have to be bound to it, but you don't want to disregard it, either.

All the best,
Steve

me too about growing up when the Monkeys were singing....
I like their music back then.

sorry to hear that Micky died? it's hard to fig.

I was very saddened the other day when I saw this in the news. I was a HUGE Monkee fan, and Davey Jones was all I could think about 24/7 from age 9-11.
Then a few days later my real life heart throb has a massive attack, and we are blessed he was less than a mile from the fire station, and 3 miles from a top rated ER.
Leo is slim, but he has a history of digestion issues. His family eat like crap, and his dad smokes and drinks, but they never had any heart attacks. I think Leo pushed himself, and stressed out and refused to monitor his high cholesterol put him at risk. I am just grateful he had a cell phone and our teen son with him, to get 911 when the symptoms did not ease up.

Hi Olismom,

It would be very interesting to know what the cardio's tell ya'll about Leo's condition and his medication regimen when he is released. I am a closet researcher or sorts, a library nut and a science junky. This genome project in the 90's and the stem cell research still going on to a great extent today is an amazing opportunity for all sorts of medical advances in cardiac care.

I was reading much on Choleserol lately and its uses and abuses in the body. raising the good HDL is key but not only lowering your LDL but especially the Pattern B higher density LDL along with tryglycerides is especially important. We don't always know what pattern LDL we have A or B but there is a little used blood test which will tell you clearly. That way you can see if the cholesterol integer is more cause or suspect.

Inflammation and Fats and refined sugars are the big culprits. Lowering inflamation in a normal metabolism is easy with diet, but with non-obvious causes as I have, finding the causes of inflamation is key to prevent reoccurrences, especially in my case.
We all need to find our normal balances to return to a healthy individual. The massive ammounts of meds is hardly returning to normal and I am bound by character alone to find what my issues are and nailing them in the butt.

But I learn so much by DS folks and external research studies and differing viewpoints, that I am not scared anymore. In fact, knowledge is key for me to stay informed and active in my recovery.

Stem cells have such a future in science. Regenerating heart muscle for one. It's already being done in labratory settings. Stem cells (the correct stem cells, not necessarily the embrionic type), have the ability to be cultured into any cell part of our bodies. Nerves, muscle, skeletal structures, brain matter, tendons etc. etc. that it seems endless and the advent that cures for heart disease is just around the corner, is just a publication away from reality. Currently any cardiac damage (Ischemia) incurred is irreversible with today's medicine. Drugs can improve effiiency but not make our hearts whole again. This technology is just around the corner. Hopefully in our times here.

So yes Genetics and other types of genetic altering science is sooo cool to keep on top of, which I try to do daily.

Best Regards,

Just Joe

I always say do everything you can to keep yourself healthy, leave the rest up to God. Many things are out of our control, but that doesn't mean we should take an "I give up, there's nothing I can do" attitude. There's plenty we can do that will help us have a good quality of life - maybe not a terribly long life - but a good one. For all we know, if Davy hadn't been careful with his diet and exercise he might have had a heart attack years ago, and spent the last decade of his life as a cardiac invalid. Instead,he was proactive in his approach to health and lived a good life for 66 years.

On another note: Oh, I had the biggest crush on Davy when I was a little girl. Loved his accent, love the Monkees, loved their music, loved the show. I can remember watching it and feeling like all was right with the world. Also Dinz, YES! I was a huge Dark Shadows fan! Watched it EVERYDAY in the summer. During school I got off the bus in time to watch the last half. I loved that show. Probably the reason I like vampire stories so much now. Oh, the angst of Barnabas Collins. Hating his blood sucking ways, but thirsting so much for....what was her name? I always wished it was me:)

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, y'all. It was a blast.

Pam

thats life for you...